Concluding comment

Given all the disappointments and setbacks associated with the past special sessions on disarmament—in particular concerning the implementation of agreed standards and recommendations—it is easy to conclude that these sessions offer little hope for advancing multilateral disarmament goals. Yet, as Dag Hammarskjöld used to say about disarmament, the notion of an SSOD has itself become a “hardy perennial” in the United Nations disarmament machinery. The priorities, policies and practices of individual Member States undoubtedly remain the most critical determinant of the success or failure of multilateral disarmament deliberations, which leaves the ultimate responsibility for the outcomes of those events squarely on the doorsteps of the Member States.

Related Subject(s): Disarmament